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  • Couple lament as four children go missing two weeks to Christmas

    Couple lament as four children go missing two weeks to Christmas

    December 25, the day set aside by Christians to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, is barely two weeks away. Individuals, groups as well as organizations are planning how best to make the day a memorable one. In family terms, husbands, wives and children have started demanding the kind of gifts they want from their loved ones. But for Mr. Chimaobi Agha and his wife, the best Christmas gift they can get from anyone is reuniting them with their four children, who are yet to return home after leaving for school on November 27, SUNNY NWANKWO, who visited the Umuagu, Umuahia North residence of the couple, reports.

    The presence of children in a home no doubt cements the bond of marriage or relationship. This accounts for why many marriages or relationships thrive despite the challenges and difficulties the parties may encounter while they try to provide for the children and other members of the family.

    In African tradition, it is the expectation of parents that their children would grow up and in turn take care of them. That is why parents could choose to go hungry just to ensure that they give their children good parenting.

    But for Mr. Chimaobi Agha, a resident of Umuagu, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State and indigene of Ndukwe Isakaogu, Amasiri autonomous community in Ebonyi State, his dream as well as that of his wife, Oluchi, that they would be surrounded by their children and possibly their grandchildren is currently under threat.

    Background

    Mr. Agha, the eldest in a family of five siblings (three males and two females), had joined one of his kinsmen in Umuahia, the Abia State capital in 2008 in his upholstery workshop. But seeing that he might not be able to cope with the business, he decided to learn bricklaying (mason) the same year. And in 2010 when he felt that he had secured the requisite skills and knowledge in the craft, decided to start hustling for himself, knowing the responsibility that awaited him at home since his parents and siblings also rely on him for support.

    On December 6, 2015, Agha decided to take a wife, Oluchi, whom he has now lived with for seven years. In the space of that time, the duo has grown to be fond of each other. And like every other low income family, they have been striving as much as they can to keep their family running.

    Mercifully, the couple was blessed with four children made up of three boys and a girl which they believed was the most precious gift they could get from God.

    On November 27, however, tragedy struck as the couple was suddenly in the news for the wrong reasons: their four children, Mmesoma, Testimony, Godswill and Chinweotito, disappeared in a flash and have been nowhere to be found ever since. Mrs. Chimaobi definitely would not have allowed her children to step out of the house on that fateful day if she had an inkling of the ugly development, but somehow, she was caught off guard.

    On the fateful day, the mother of four, whose husband had traveled to Emene in Enugu State where he was contracted for a bricklaying job, had woken up like she normally did to prepare for the day’s business and also get the children ready for school.

    And when it was time for the children to go to school, she decided to see them off. Along the line, she suddenly realized that the balls of akara (bean cake) she was frying were already burning, hence she rushed back to take them off the frying pan. But by the time she returned to join her children, they had already boarded a keke (commercial tricycle) in front of their mother’s shop and went off to school.

    The poor mother had no reason to sense any danger because for two years, the children had been going to the school located a short distance from the house on their own. So on realising that the children had left for school, she merely shrugged and returned to her akara business.

    Unfortunately, Oluchi had no idea of the tragedy that had hit the family until after school hours when she waited in vain for her children to return from school. Having waited for hours without her children in sight, she called the children’s school to know why they had not dismissed, only to be told that the children never got to the school.

    Shocked and confused, she decided to go to the children’s school only for the teachers and pupils to confirm that her children never made it to school on that day.

    The question on many lips is who was the operator of the commercial tricycle the children boarded? Are the children still alive in the face of insecurity and ritual killings associated with the ember months?

    While the matter has been reported to the police who claim to have started preliminary investigation, many residents believe that only divine intervention would fish out the tricycle operator or provide a clue about the children’s whereabouts.

    ‘How my children vanished into thin air’

    Providing details of the circumstances that culminated in the disappearance of her children, the distraught mother of four said: On the 27th of November, I prepared my children for school. When it was time for them to go to school, I took them to the junction, which is some distance from my shop, where they usually boarded keke (commercial tricycle) to school.

    “Normally, I would stand with them to flag down the keke that would take them to school. But on that fateful day, the akara (bean cake) that I had on fire was already burning, so I had to go to take them off from the frying pan.

    “I rushed back to meet them, but they had already stopped a keke man and left. That is how they have been going to school in the last two years.

    “When the normal time they were supposed to return passed, I called the school to find out why the children were not yet back. That was when I got the most shocking news of my life.

    “They told me that they did not see my children in the school on that day. My world literally came to an end. I was devastated. How do I explain that my four children who left the house for school in the morning are nowhere to be found?

    “At that point, I did not even know what to do. I went to their school myself and their teachers confirmed that they were not there on that day. I was just going about, hoping that I would see them, but till date, I am yet to see any of them.

    “I have gone to police stations, radio houses, prayer houses and every other place I think could be of help to the recovery of my missing children. My life has turned upside down since November 27. My every day prayer is for my four children to return to me sound and healthy.

    “In the past, we were using a particular keke rider, but at some point, he started disappointing us. Sometimes, he would not come early. At other times, he would not even tell us that he would not be coming to pick the children.

    “Because of his inconsistency, we decided to stop using him. We later got another person who was more prompt and reliable. Unfortunately, the young man, who was taking them to school from their pre-nursery to their nursery school, relocated from Umuahia to another city after his studies.

    “There were some grown up ones that they did go with. The problem is that those ones were inconsistent too. Sometimes, the children, after waiting for them, would discover that they would not be going to school on that day.

    “Sometimes, the grown up ones would come back home without going to their classes to pick them up while my children would be waiting for them so that they would all come back together, not knowing that they were all gone.

    “It was after all this that the children started going to school by themselves. They were the ones that suggested and convinced me that they wanted to start going to school on their own, and for two years, they were going to school and coming back home on their own without any issue.

    “I didn’t know that such a thing would happen, and I believe that God that gave the children to me will bring them back safely.

    “Honestly, I don’t know what else to say. I am like someone that has lost everything he has laboured to earn, preserve and safeguard over the years.

    “Life has become unbearable for me, because whenever the children come back from school, we sing and pray together. And on Saturdays when they would not go to school, they would help me out in my business.

    “When I cry, it is the children that wipe away my tears. Apart from the fact that I find it hard to eat, I have suffered emotional trauma.

    “I have never stolen anyone’s property; not even a fowl. The kids are a product of my marriage with my husband. I didn’t come to my husband’s house with anyone’s child.

    “I put my hope and trust in God, and I know that He will not disappoint me. I am begging all Nigerians, Abians and others to help me in prayers. I know that there is nothing that God cannot do.

    “God says He is the God that promises and fulfills. I know that he has promised me and He will surely fulfill it.

    “People should please put their ears on the ground. If there is any information about the kids, they should kindly report to the nearest police station or appropriate quarters.

    “I don’t know how to fight. I walk on my own. I suffer alone and move alone. I don’t have any enemies around where I am living or any other place.

    “In terms of suspicion, I am not suspecting anyone. Anybody that planned to set me up or wants to traumatise me, God is watching the person. The person cannot live in this house forever. One day, that person will join his or her ancestors.

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    “All I need are my children. I have given the case file to God. He is the one that will fight this battle for me. My children are still alive; they normally talk to me in the dream. They are still alive.

    “I am confident that these children will never die for the sins that they never committed, and I promise God that if He helps to bring these children back alive, my family and I will forever serve him.

    How I received news of my children’s disappearance, by distraught father

    The distraught father of the missing children, Mr. Chmaobi Agha, an indigene of Ndukwe Isakaogu, Amasiri autonomous community in Ebonyi State, said: “I came to Umuahia in 2008 to hustle. We are five in the family, two females and three male children. I am the first born.

    “My parents are still alive. I came to Umuahia immediately after I finished secondary school. I was staying with my brother who was a furniture maker.

    “I didn’t want to join any woodwork because my brother was already doing it and I didn’t want it to appear as if I was competing with him.

    “So in 2010, I left him to join mason work. I learnt the job for some years and later started being my own boss.

    “We got married on December 6, 2015 and gave birth to a set of twins before the other two came. I have a great bond with my children. It was beyond father-children relationship. They were my friends and my joy.

    “I was in Enugu, around the Airport axis, where I had gone for a job when my wife called to inform me of the ugly incident. I immediately came back and since that time, we have been going from one place to another in search of our kids.

    “The matter was initially reported at Umuagu Police Station and was later transferred to the State Criminal and Investigation Department (SCID).

    “Life has not been the same for us since that incident. I am not suspecting anyone. I haven’t collected anybody’s property and cannot remember having any quarrel with anyone.

    “I am just appealing to the police and Nigerians to please come to our aid. The pain is too much for us to bear. How can one explain losing four children at once?

    Position of Abia State House of Assembly

    The Abia State House of Assembly resolved to render financial assistance to the family after the Abia State Police Command declared the four children missing.

    The lawmakers at a plenary presided over by the Speaker, Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, received a motion from Godwin Adiele, the member representing Ukwa West Constituency, on the disappearance of the four siblings.

    Adiele prayed the house to mandate the state government to step up action in mobilising all the security agencies in the state to intensify efforts in identifying the whereabouts of the missing children.

    Adiele appealed to the House to allocate a modest financial support to the affected family to help them in coping with the financial challenges arising from the unfortunate incident.

    After agreeing to his prayers, the House resolved that security agencies conduct a comprehensive investigation into the activities of Keke riders in the state.

    Confirming the development, the Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Abia State Police Command, Maureen Chinaka, said the incident was reported at the Ohuhu Police Station on November 28, 2023.

    The police spokesperson said the parents of the missing children reported that the Keke rider took them to an unknown destination.

    “They reported the matter at the Ohuhu Police Station, and the DPO in charge of the division swung into action, searching for the kids in the neighborhood, including hotels. Investigation is ongoing on the matter,” she said.

    Chinaka said in a statement: “On 28/11/2023, at about 1530 hrs, Mr Chimaobi Agha and his wife, Mrs Chimaobi Oluchi, residents of Umuagu (IBeku, Umuahia North LGA), visited Ohuhu Police Divisional headquarters to report an incident.

    “According to their account, on Monday, 27/11/2023, at 0730 hrs, Mrs Chimaobi Oluchi escorted their four children identified as follows:

    1. Chinweotiti Chimaobi (7 yrs old, female)

    2. Nmesomachi Chimaobi (7 yrs old, female)

    3. Testimony Chimaobi (4 yrs old, male)

    4. Godswill Chimaobi (2 yrs old, male)

    “The children’s mother escorted them to the junction of her street to board an unknown tricycle destined for Great Ambassadors College, Okaiuga Nkwoegwu, Ohuhu, in Umuahia North LGA.

    “No one escorted or went with them, considering that the eldest is 7 years old and the tricyclist is unknown.

    “Unfortunately, at the end of the school day, the children did not return home as anticipated.

    “The police initiated an investigation into the whereabouts of the missing children.

    “Further investigation has shown that the children were not present in school on the specified date, and the investigation to trace the missing children is ongoing.

    “We urge anyone with information that could aid in locating them to promptly report to the nearest police station.”

    Government’s response

    The Senior Special Adviser on Media to Governor Alex Otti, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, in a monitored radio programme assured that the state government was aware of the incident.

    According to Ekeoma, the governor had directed the appropriate security agencies to go into action and assured that efforts were ongoing to ensure that not only that the perpetrators were fished out, but the children safely returned to their parents.

  • Military adopts gender policy to protect women, children during conflicts

    Military adopts gender policy to protect women, children during conflicts

    The Defence Headquarters says the asymmetric nature of current security challenges in the country has made the military and other security agencies adopt a more realistic gender mainstreaming strategy to defend and protect women and children during conflicts.

    It also said that the Armed Forces of Nigeria has attained 27.9 per cent female participation in peace support operations as against the 17 per cent benchmark recommended by the United Nations (UN).

    The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, said this at a one-day Gender Mainstreaming Conference organized by the Defence Headquarters Abuja on Thursday, November 9.

    He said the Nigerian military had received encomium from the UN and the Africa Union (AU) for adopting commendable gender mainstreaming policies in all its military operations within and outside Nigeria.

    The CDS said: “The available record reveals that the Armed Forces of Nigeria have been able to attain 27.9 per cent female participation in peacekeeping operations.

    “These deliberate efforts by the military are in line with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, mandating countries to develop their own action plans to identify, evaluate and control efforts to achieve the objectives of Women, Peace and Security.

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    “The UN Security Council Resolution 1325 was mooted to ensure women and societal security needs are safeguarded through increased emphasis on prevention, protection and participation of women in military operations.”

    Gen. Musa said the conference, themed as “Building Capacity Through Gender Mainstreaming to meet Security Challenges” was tailored at fashioning out the right ambience for the Nigerian military in designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating operational and administrative doctrines that would promote and enhance their capacity to combat the myriads of security challenges.

    He urged all participants and stakeholders to be open minded to engage in constructive discussions that would further improve the existing gender policies and gender mainstreaming in the military.
    Musa reiterated that the armed forces under his command would remain focused in championing gender based doctrinal policies both in its operations and other engagements.

    The UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, commended the Federal Government’s efforts in promoting gender mainstreaming in the nation’s armed forces.

    Mohammed said the conference was apt in building on the Gender Policies for the Armed Forces of Nigeria that was launched in 2021, adding that Nigeria, like many other nations, faces many security challenges, both the national and regional levels.

    The UN scribe said the UN would continue to support the federal government in its efforts to deepen gender inclusiveness and bridge the gender gaps in the armed forces.

    She said that the challenges had far reaching consequences, particularly for the most vulnerable members of society, such as women and children.
    According to her, the Nigerian armed forces had continued to play pivotal roles in both preventing and responding to those security challenges while upholding human rights and safeguarding the nation’s security.

    Mohammed said: “Gender mainstreaming is crucial to the peace process during and after conflict because it sits at the heart of our Sustainable Development Goals.

    “Study after study has demonstrated that when we strengthen women’s resilience and leadership, everyone benefits, including men and boys.

    “Women are more likely to foster inclusive modes of governance and coexistence, more likely to build peace and silence against, and more likely to invest in sustainable development and a cornerstone of peaceful, prosperous communities and societies.

    “Women’s active participation and leadership at all levels is essential to building an inclusive, responsive, and accountable armed forces that reflects the diversity of the community service and better response to their needs.”

    The British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gill Atkinson, said the role of women in policy making in the defence, insecurity and operational frontline had grown and become steadily more important.

    Atkinson said the UK and Nigeria had adopted and domesticated UNSCR 1325, which had made the role of women in peace and security fundamental to the future of the nations’ defence and security.

    She said that Nigeria had shown its commitment to the resolution in many ways such as in the protection of survivors of sexual violence, supporting the call to action to ensure the rights and well-being of children born of sexual violence in conflict.

    According to her, inclusive military and security organizations are the key to helping them meet the standards set out in these agreements.

    “But I think it’s important too that we understand and pay tribute to the women at the grassroots who are working with their communities and upwards through the system to bring peace and security, reconciliation and support both the women and the men in their communities.

    “We must make sure that gender considerations are fully integrated into policy, practices and operational environment and the armed forces can lead the way,” she said.

  • Carving a brighter future for out-of-school children

    Carving a brighter future for out-of-school children

    According to a recent UNICEF data, Nigeria has over 20.2 million out-of-school children. Stepping up to address this issue is IA-Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) dedicated to ensuring every Nigerian child’s right to a world-class education. The organisation has hosted an out-of-school children’s summit, highlighting the issue’s severity and stressing the need for a collective action to ensure the children get the education they deserve. CHINAKA OKORO reports

    Amid the cacophony of harsh living in Kano city, a quieter struggle unfolds – the struggle of millions of Nigerian children who are deprived of a fundamental right: the right to education. Among these children, there is a shared story of resilience, hope and an unyielding spirit despite the odds stacked against them. Meet Zara, a bright-eyed 10-year-old girl, living in a modest neighbourhood. While her peers excitedly don school uniforms and backpacks, Zara spends her days selling groundnuts by the roadside. Education, a luxury her family cannot afford, remains a distant dream. Yet, her eyes sparkle with determination, reflecting a spirit unbroken by adversity.

    Then there’s Ahmed, a 12-year-old boy with dreams as vast as the Nigerian skies. His father, a daily wage labourer, can barely make ends meet. For Ahmed, school is not just a place of learning; it’s a sanctuary where his dreams take flight. But the doors of knowledge remain closed to him, leaving his aspirations hanging in limbo.

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    These are just two faces among millions of out-of-school children in Nigeria. UNICEF’s recent statistics paint a stark reality: over 20.2 million children like Zara and Ahmed are missing out on their education. They roam the streets, not with books in hand, but with unspoken stories of potential untapped.

    But amid the adversity, there is hope. NGOs such as the IA-Foundation are becoming beacons of change, striving tirelessly to bridge the education gap. Their mission is not just about filling classrooms; it’s about igniting minds, nurturing dreams and breaking the cycle of poverty.

    Recently, the IA-Foundation, actively engaged in rescuing children from the streets and facilitating their education, organised an out-of-school summit titled “Street to School: A Panacea to Menace.”

    Held at the Marriott Hotel in Lagos, the event united various stakeholders, including education professionals, researchers, school owners, corporate entities involved in education-related corporate social responsibilities (CSR) and education-focused NGOs. Notably, the event featured Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) as the keynote speaker.

    Experts in the knowledge industry highlight the social consequences of out-of-school children, encompassing security threats,future scarcity of skilled workers, a tarnished international reputation, elevated illiteracy rates and profound socio-economic dependency issues.

    Faced with this impending crisis, Mrs. Ibironke Adeagbo, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, recognised the urgency of dismantling financial and social barriers obstructing education. Her proactive stance aimed to ensure unhindered access to quality education and tackle the root causes compelling children to abandon schools.

    Expressing her gratitude to the personalities who attended the event for embracing the Foundation’s vision of eradicating child illiteracy, Mrs Adeagbo acknowledged the diverse individuals whose unwavering support, dedication, tenacity, and donations have propelled the Foundation’s mission. The gathering’s objective was clear: to employ a practical, proactive, and pragmatic approach to transform Nigeria’s narrative, especially concerning its alarming rate of out-of-school children, which ranks among the highest globally.

    Regretting that the state of insecurity tends to invalidate the gains the country has made in terms of keeping the children in school, Mrs. Adeagbo said: “Sadly, the security challenges in Nigeria are wiping out the small gains the government is making. The education crisis in Nigeria is one that requires urgent, collective and concrete action to surmount. The reality is that the crisis is not just about marginalised ‘out-of-school’ children, but also about children who are in school and not learning, due to lack of resources both at home and at school.”

    As Falana took the stage, the entire hall fell silent, captivated by the presence of this profound human rights activist and legal luminary. He underscored the fundamental obligation of the Federal Government, describing it as a paternal duty to foster the intellectual growth of its citizens.

    Education, he emphasised, stands as a cornerstone in a child’s life, unlocking numerous opportunities and nurturing them into conscientious adults. A quality education not only hones their skills but also provides a pathway to a brighter future, enabling them to lead responsible and fulfilling lives.

    Falana said: “The Federal Government is under obligation to provide free education for every child in Nigeria. The right to education is a universal entitlement, recognised as a human right. Section 15(1) of the Child’s Rights Act of 2003 stated that ‘every child has right to free, compulsory and universal basic education and shall be the duty of the government to provide such education.”

    Quoting copiously Section 18 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, Falana said: “Section 18 (1) provides that (1) Government shall direct its policy towards ensuring that there are equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels. (2) The government shall promote science and technology. (3) the government shall strive to eradicate illiteracy; and to this end, the government shall as and when practicable provide (a) free, compulsory and universal primary education; (b) free secondary education; (c) free university education; and (d) free adult literacy programme.”

    He enjoined stakeholders to join hands with the IA-Foundation in its efforts to halt the out-of-school children phenomenon.

    In his analysis of the situation in Nigeria, Mr. Babajide Ogunsanwo highlighted the complexity of the issue, describing it as a double tragedy. He delved into the “Key Facts and Educational Statistics in Nigeria,” revealing five distinct dimensions of exclusion concerning children’s access to comprehensive education.

    The first dimension comprises children of pre-primary school age who are not enrolled in either pre-primary or primary school. The second dimension encompasses children of primary school age who are not attending primary or secondary school. The third dimension includes children of lower secondary school age who are not enrolled in primary or secondary school. The fourth dimension covers children in primary school who are at risk of dropping out, and the fifth dimension refers to children in lower secondary school who face a similar risk of discontinuing their education.

    “One of the reasons Nigeria is referred to as the poverty capital of the world and not India is clearly based on the data from the United Nations, which indicates India has 52 million children who should be in primary, junior secondary and senior secondary schools who are not in school. Nigerians have 21 million and Pakistan has 19 million. But Nigeria’s case is significant because India has a population of 1.4 billion, and so looking at the ratio of India’s population to their 52 million, approximately four per cent of their population is out of school.

    “In Nigeria, a little over 200 million as of today, 21 million children are out of school. In simple terms, 10 per cent of the population is out of school and across these three countries; India, Nigeria and Pakistan in terms of nominal numbers of out-of-school children, Nigeria has the highest concentration of out-of-school children. So, looking at the numbers alone, India is number one but looking at the concentration of out-of-school children relative to population, Nigeria has the highest concentration of out-of-school children.”

    In furtherance of its commitment to sensitise the public to the danger of the menace, IA-Foundation held a sensitisation walk. The walk took off from Ikeja Underbridge to the Lagos State House of Assembly, Alausa where members of the NGO and other volunteers were addressed by the Deputy Majority Leader, Adedamola Kasunmu, who was accompanied by some other members of the Assembly.

    Addressing members of the Assembly, Mrs. Ibironke Adeagbo said: “This organisation was set up as a result of our worry at the statistics of out-of-school children in Nigeria. At the moment, UNICEF has placed the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria at 20.2 million. This is about 10 per cent of our population. One out of every five out-of-school children in the world is in Nigeria. We don’t have to be illiterate to fill the country’s workforce.

    “So, it’s important that the government ensures that every child is in school and every child is getting an education. We don’t want to see our children roaming the streets when they are meant to be in school. We also want to encourage you as legislators to vote more money for the education sector. In Nigeria at the moment, just 8.2 per cent of our total budget is spent on education, whereas UNICEF and UNESCO recommended that we need to have double digits in terms of our budgetary allocations for education. As legislators, we appeal to you to prioritise education.”

    On behalf of the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa; Kasunmu thanked Mrs Adeagbo for demonstrating love for children and their future. He assured IA-Foundation that the Assembly prioritises the education of children in all matters, even as he revealed that the state also prioritises the education of children.

    “Of course, the out-of-school children are one of the things that bother us. We pay great attention while discussing such matters and when formulating policies that will affect our people. We will try one way or the other, to support the idea of making sure that we keep our children out of the streets to school in order to better their lives.

    “In the Lagos State House of Assembly, legislations have been put in place to safeguard children, including the Child Rights Law enacted in 2007.

    “We understand your plight because, even according to UNICEF, as of January or thereabout, the statistics show that out of the 10 million children who are out of school, over six million are female, which is about 60 per cent,” Kasunmu said.

  • Police rescue two missing children from native doctor in Rivers

    Police rescue two missing children from native doctor in Rivers

    Police have rescued two Benue State children, who were stolen at Badagry Street, opposite St. Peters Catholic Church, Wurukum, Makurdi.

    Police spokesperson Kate Aneene said the children were rescued from a native doctor in Rumu-Okoro area of Rivers State.

    The two children, Philomena, six, and Benedict, two, have been reunited with their parents in Makurdi, according to Aneene.

    “When the matter was reported, investigation started immediately and a signal was sent across the country.

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    “On October 20, 2023, information was received from River State Police Command that in the course of an operation at Rumu-Okoro area, they rescued three children from a native doctor that seemed to be the same children earlier reported by Benue Command as missing.

    She said detectives were sent to River State for identification and they rescued the children.

    “Another child was found with the native doctor, but he is yet to be identified by any parent.”

    Philomena and Benedict were kidnapped on September 24 at about 7:30am in Makurdi.

  • Group calls for urgent action to curtail preventable deaths among children

    Group calls for urgent action to curtail preventable deaths among children

    A humanitarian group, Save the Children International, has warned that Nigeria may not be able to achieve the goal of curtailing preventable deaths among children unless urgent actions are taken by the Federal Government, development partners and other stakeholders.

    The organisation said Nigeria might miss out on achieving education for all among other targets by 2030 despite the progress that has been made by the country.

    The Chief Impact Officer, Save the Children International, Ebrima Saidy said this at a press conference yesterday in Abuja after his visit to the Northeast.

    Saidy stated that from data, it was obvious that Nigeria could not achieve these ambitions for children by 2030 because it was critically way behind in achieving the targets.

    “Nigeria is one of the countries where we need to raise the bar to achieve those ambitions for children,” he said.

    He added that the three main ambitions of the organisation were to make sure that by 2030, no child died from preventable causes before their fifth birthday; that children from every part of the country are able to access good, quality education regardless of their geographical location and also, to ensure that violence against children is no longer tolerated anywhere in the world.

    Saidy, however, maintained that to achieve these targets, things must be done differently, as 2030 was just around the corner.

    He said to achieve the target, development partners as well as the government cannot continue to do things the way they are doing.

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    He called for more investments as well as synergy to achieve children’s rights and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially as they relate to children in Nigeria.

    Stating that the organisation has been providing life-saving humanitarian assistance and responding to emergencies, Saidy rsaid last year, SCI’s programme reached more than 24.4 million children and families in over 70 local government areas in 17 states and since last January, SCI has reached out to more than 1,590,047 individuals, comprising 64 per cent children.

    While mentioning that he was very impressed with the success rate of projects impacting children when he visited some of the places in the Northeast, he stated that one of the stabilisation centres where children suffering from severe and acute malnutrition were being treated, has an average success rate of 94 to 95 per cent.

    Saidy added that there were a lot of SDGs indicators that would be achieved such as access to education.

    He said: “But, with the indicators around quality of education, we may not be able to achieve that by the year 2030 and that is not just in Nigeria, but also in many countries around the world.

    “This is because of the quality of instruction, the resourcing of schools, the resourcing of teachers, the enabling environment for teachers to provide good quality education, and the infrastructure that is required. We are still way behind on a number of these.”

    Saidy said the situation in the health sector was no different, saying: “We are not quite there.”

    He added: “We are committed to the SDGs. We know from the data where we are doing well and where we are not doing well. I think the right thing to do is to identify the areas that we are not doing very well and increase government investment in those areas, and coordinate the work of NGOs and the work of the development partners, to say everybody all hands on deck.”

    According to Saidy, working together under the coordination of the government would make it possible to make significant strides to get as close to the SCI target as possible by 2030.

    He said: “It is not late for us. We are still optimistic that we may not achieve all but we can still push the boundaries as best as possible. Yet, we have to partner to work better together.

    “We have to complement each other. We all bring different expertise and different roles and responsibilities; it is about including the children and the communities that we work in. We need to work better with the government. We need to work better with donors and our development partners.

    “We want to be able to raise more funding to be able to increase the amount of states that we work in, but also the depth of our work in some of the states that are very, very deprived.”

    Saidy noted that Nigeria contributed to one of the largest numbers of early child and forced marriages and out- of – school – children globally

    According to him, all the children deserved a better future and as such, the rights of children should be fully protected and fulfilled.

    He said this could be done through the creation and adoption of suitable policies, strategies, plans and making sure that those frameworks are budgeted for and implemented to transform children’s lives.

  • Jail term for parents overnon-enrolment of children?

    Jail term for parents overnon-enrolment of children?

    The Senate in a bill that has scaled the first reading proposed jail term for parents who refuse to enrol their wards in school. Some observers reckon that it may not be realistic, others want that aspect to be expunged. DAMOLA KOLA-DARE reports

    The Senate last week passed for second reading a bill that recommends a jail term for parents who do not enrol their wards for basic education.

    The bill proposed by Senator Orji Kalu is titled Compulsory free Universal Basic Education Act 2004, Section 2 states that “every government in Nigeria shall provide free, compulsory and universal basic education for every child of primary and junior secondary school age.”

    It also states that: “Every parent shall ensure that his child or ward attends and completes his primary school education and junior secondary school education by endeavouring to send the child to primary and junior secondary schools.”

    It further noted that a parent who fails to comply should, on the first conviction, be reprimanded.

    “On a second conviction, a fine of N2,000 or imprisonment for a term of one month or both; and on subsequent conviction, to a fine of N5,000 or imprisonment for a term of two months or to both.

    The Act further states that “stakeholders in education in a local government area shall ensure that every parent or person who has the care and custody of a child performs the duty imposed on him under section 2(2) of this Act,” it added.

    The Act also recommended a fine of N50,000 to parents who default in providing their children with primary and secondary school education. Initially, the Senate proposed N5,000, however, in its amendment, it changed it to N50,000.

    The amendment states:  “Section (4) (b) of the Principal Act is amended by deleting N2,000 and inserting N20,000.  Section (4) (c) of the Principal Act is amended by deleting N5,000 and inserting N50,000.”

    “Every parent shall ensure that his child receives full-time education suitable to his age, ability and aptitude by regular attendance at schools.”

    Observers argued that this is not unconnected to the issue of out-of-school children. At present, statistics says the country has more than 20 million out-of-school children.  It is the highest rate in the world. Internationally, there is a  recommended benchmark that  countries should allocate 15-20 per cent of their national budgets on education. But in Nigeria, the budget over the years remain abysmally low. In 2021,  5.7 per cent was allocated to education by the Federal Government, in  2022, the allocation was 7.2 per cent. For the 2023 budget, 8.8 per cent was given to education.

    However, stakeholders have argued that though the move may be laudable, the jail term aspect of the bill should be reviewed, and some other factors considered.

    In an interview with The Nation, Vice Chancellor, Ahman Pategi University (APU), Kwara State, Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji, noted that it was a good step in the right direction, adding that it was impressive to ‘encourage or compel’ parents to prioritise educating their wards.

    Read Also: Christy O defends Phyna amid internet crisis

    However, he said ‘the bill will only treat the symptom, not the disease. The disease is extreme poverty, which conscious efforts must be made to extirpate’.

    Adedimeji said beyond legislating, public school system should be made attractive and free. He added that  basic education should be considered a social service as obtainable in other climes.

    He said: “It is a right step in the right direction as it is excellent to encourage or compel parents to formally educate their children. It is a responsibility that no reasonable person should shy away from.

    “The ascendancy of criminality in Nigeria is traceable to the what I can call ‘poor parenting syndrome’. Now, there is ‘zero parenting syndrome’ where people just give birth to children and abandon them. There are parents, who don’t bother to cater for or train their children – a despicable development that stares us in the face. Those the society failed to train yesterday are our tormentors of today.

    “Nevertheless, I still believe the bill will only treat the symptom, not the disease. The disease is extreme poverty which conscious efforts must be made to extirpate. There is a  Yoruba proverb that says lacking something equates not appreciating its worth or relevance. People rationalise what they don’t have.

    “Therefore, beyond legislating, public school system should be made attractive and free. Basic education should be considered a social service as obtainable in other climes. Then, those who default in enrolling their children can be deemed criminals.

    “Rwanda last year upgraded its public schools to such an extent that parents were withdrawing their children from the private schools to the public school system. Those whose children weren’t attending schools before started enrolling them because of the incentives given, environment provided and commitment displayed by government.

    “Government should appreciate that investment in education yields the highest dividends even from the social point of view. As Victor Hugo said, ‘He who opens a school door closes a prison.’”

    In his response, a don in the Department of English, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Prof. Taiwo Oloruntoba-Oju, described the said bill as ‘an overdramatisation of government’s concern’. He said coercive legislations may not be effective.

    Oloruntoba-Oju said: “It seems to me an overdramatisation of government concern. And the approach may not be particularly effective. There are a number of issues involved here, ranging from the means or capabilities of the parents concerned, to issues of culture, problem of awareness and nature of communal involvement. Always there are push and pull factors drawing people to particular policies or pushing them away from them. You have to analyse these factors in relation to your specific context. Actually, it is the responsibility of government to provide free or affordable education for the citizens. Granted that government can only do so through the primary caregivers, but you need to realise that these caregivers (parents, etc.) need resources and incentives, not threats to start with.

    “Have you analysed the rate and role of poverty? How does the family that cannot feed think of education? Have you examined other possible models apart from such coercive legislation? So, which model are you following? How was it done in Cuba, Nicaragua, or even in the old western region in Nigeria? You need to address the value systems, address social and cultural barriers, involve communities, establish programmes and give incentives. When you do all that you wouldn’t need coercive legislations.”

    National President of Congress of University Academics (CONUA), Dr ‘Niyi Sunmonu, said: “If we get the basic education right, Nigeria is probably likely to solve a large portion of its challenges in the tertiary education sector.

    “The perspective of CONUA is that rather than prescribing punitive measures, all-round incentives for parents and all stakeholders along the value-chain should be encouraged. It is after this is practised for years and subsequently evaluated that we can be talking of punitive measures if the result of evaluation is negative.

    “To buttress CONUA’s position, the government is expected to invest and subsequently evaluate its intervention on the supply-side of its reform such as infrastructural improvements, materials needed for imparting knowledge and appointments of qualified and highly motivated and remunerated teachers. Has the government done all these before considering this punitive measure? How do you punish an individual for public defecation when you have not provided public toilets? One is not saying that the government must provide all these directly, but it must, as a matter of responsibility, provide enabling environment for such to happen!

    “Are parents well remunerated? Is the country having enabling environment for parents to thrive? What are the visible incentives associated with being educated – readily available jobs (not with the government necessarily)?

    “In short, all-round incentives associated with basic education should be promoted and pursued by the government and evaluated after some years before the consideration of punitive measures.”

    For the Coordinator, Child Protection Network (CPN), Lagos State chapter, Mrs. Ronke Oyelakin, the bill is a welcome development, but it should be effectively implemented. She said as part of civil society organisations in the country, efforts would be made to create more awareness and let parents know the benefits of education and that  they can go for  government-owned schools if that is what they can afford. Oyelakin who expressed happiness concerning the bill,  noted that failure to send their wards to school is unacceptable and great denial of their rights to education and development to be a better citizen.

    She said: “Parents take a crucial stand, when it comes to their children’s development and education as whole, as the parents themselves are the ones to take care on the overall children physical and intellectual development, till the point they get independent and ready to face the challenges of the society they live in.

    “They are aware of the work on the development of children. But at the same time, they need pedagogical information on the right to education of their children. And that is where we come in as child advocates to sensitise parents and children on the right to education among other rights of children as provided in the Child Right Law of Lagos State 2007 and reviewed in 2015.

    “Over 1 million children have been given this information and 2.1 million parents  have been  engaged across the state. I know what Bimbo Odukoya Foundation had done in this regard of awareness and likewise Child Protection Network and other NGOs on a daily basis.

    “Parents as well as the family as whole, play the role of the direct leaders as well as supporters of the implementation of the education of their children. As this is one of the core factors of influence, it can be seen as the fundamental one which with no doubt has a greater influence on the overall development and creation of the human personality.

    “When parents involve themselves in the education process of their children, usually the outcome can be qualified as a positive and encouraging one.

    “I am happy about this law but unfortunately, implementation has been our major challenge in this part of the country where we find ourselves. I hope it will be fully implemented but we as CSOs will continue to create more awareness and let the parents know the benefits of education and they can go for the government owned schools if that is what they can afford but failure to send their wards to school is unacceptable and great denial of their rights to education and development to be a better citizen.”

    Deputy National President Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria(NAPTAN), Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo, noted that the jail term aspect of the bill was too harsh, and as such, should be removed. He said a fine was okay to make parents prioritise educating their wards.

    He said: “In Africa generally,  we don’t particularly treasure education, not just in Nigeria. Likewise some tribes too, they  prefer religious education as fundamental. But beyond that, it is good to know more about the world we live in. Can we ever think of people in Europe or civilised nations who won’t send their children to school? Africa must prioritise educating her children. Sadly, some parents do not value education. When you are educated, it means you are enlightened. Education is quite key. Look at a particular group that is saying “no books” (Boko Haram). However, the bill is welcome but parents should be encouraged rather than putting a jail term. A  jail term is too harsh. It is also discretionary. A fine is okay. Parents should now be sensitised across states of the federation on why education is very important. For instance, in a viral video, a child wanted to go to school, but the parents insisted she should go and marry. The child refused the marriage offer and she was publicly flogged. At a tender age, her parents wanted to get married,while she desired going to school. Also, these days, some parents want their wards to go into trading and forget education. It is not right. Education opens the horizon; it should be prioritised. Again, the jail term should be reviewed. Fine,  it is okay to serve as deterrent to defaulters. Precisely, it is also a way to get the out-of-school children off the streets. And the nation would be better for it. There should be a massive campaign for parents to know that if they don’t send their wards to school, they would be fined instead of bagging a  jail term. It would also help to curb early marriage.”

  • Entertainer laments high rate of out-of-school children

    Entertainer laments high rate of out-of-school children

    International Disc Jockey (DJ) and philanthropist, Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola, also known as DJ Cuppy, has advocated quality education for children across the world.

    Otedola spoke at the occasion of the International Day of Peace Youth Event at the United Nations, New York, yesterday.

    Speaking about how passionate she is committed to Sustainable Development Goal 4, which is about quality education, Florence called for protection, support and empowerment of girls.

    Read Also: Why every child deserves quality education, by DJ Cuppy

    Otedola said: “Peace begins with us. You can make the world a better place. I would not be standing here if not because of my education.

    “I’ve a deep passion to make impact through education. My foundation founded six years ago has been focused on education. I’ve three university degrees. Education is everything, it has paved the way for me. It has allowed me to become a woman with an international vision.

    “Life can be tough and unpeaceful. I was in Borno State, Nigeria in 2019, and I was frightened. We need to protect, support and empower girls. We know empowerment can put food on the table, but education can build the table.

  • Are you his wife or mother of his children?

    NKECHI and Brown had been living together as a couple for over 10 years. They were blessed with three lovely daughters. To the outside community, they were an ideal couple, as they could be seen holding hands while they take walks down the streets. To put it mildly, they made every bachelor and spinster green with envy each time they take their evening strolls.

    To the whole neighbourhood, Nkechi was known and addressed as Mrs. Brown and she would glow and respond with a wave of the hand whenever one addresses her that way. She was respected, and she had a perfect ‘home’ or so we thought. Nkechi’s world in one day came crashing down on her when the unexpected happened, did I say unexpected? I would like to paraphrase. Her world came crashing down on her when the unimaginable happened.

    Brown had just been promoted at work (by the way Brown is a banker). Nkechi was elated, no she was thrilled. She did not stop there. She came to church to testify to the goodness of Almighty God on her household. She told of how they had hitherto stayed in a one-bedroom apartment and the package that was attached to her ‘husband’s promotion (a four-bedroom apartment, fully furnished and an official car with a driver).

    The whole church gave a resounding applause following her testimony. The following week she went to the market and prepared Brown’s favourite meal, banga with starch, unusually. Brown came home a little earlier than expected with a strange looking man in a faded blue suit, the man was clutching a very huge Bible that Nkechi never knew existed in the stores.

    Warmly, Nkechi welcomed her husband with a hug, but she got the shock of her life when Brown gently but firmly shoved her side. The Daddy welcome his kids chorused was met with the same cold response. She ushered the funny- looking man in and a surprised Nkechi followed them from behind.

    She could not comprehend what the problem was. Was there a problem in the office? Had the promotion been withdrawn? Was there a bad news item from the village? A thousand and one questions went through her mind. She had lived with her husband for ten years. So far, the union had been blissful. Brown had never in those ten years raised his voice on her or even the kids, so what on earth could be wrong?

    Innocently, she entered their one-bedroom apartment and before she could offer their guest any drink, her husband ordered her to sit down. Still feeling a little numb from Brown’s strange behaviour, she managed to sit down. Brown introduced the man as a prophet who he met earlier in the day when he went to have lunch with his colleagues. He claimed the man told him (Brown) the story of his life, right from his childhood days. The man even told him about his promotion and how the future would look bright except for one thing. At this point, Nkechi’s heart was beating so fast she could hear it.

    Brown paused and looked at the man, as if asking for support. The man cleared his throat and continued from where Brown stopped. He looked straight into her eyes and said: “Madam, you be witch na you wan kill this man.” Before she could recover from the shock of what the man was saying, Brown, pointing an accusing finger at her, said: “Nkechi, so after all I have done for you. This is the thanks I get? Prophet says that if I continue to live with you, I will die in six months”. Nkechi said she could not sit any longer. She tried to find her voice to respond, but Brown was not through. He started dealing severe blows on the woman, shouting on top of his voice, he yelled, “leave my house,” throwing her things out in the process.

    Still dazed from the happenings, all she could mutter was Dim, Dim (which means my husband, my husband). This even infuriated him the more. He got angrier and asked: “Who is your husband? Listen, you witch; I am not your husband, neither are you my wife. You are simply the mother of my children. After all, did I pay any bride price on you?”

    At this point, neighbours had started rushing out from their rooms. Brown was not deterred by the crowd. He continued to shout: “Leave my house! Leave my house! Witch! You are not my wife. You are not my wife! You are just the mother of my children”.

    All efforts by neighbours, friends and family members to make peace met a brick wall. To cut a very long story short, that was how Nkechi left her home of ten years to become a single woman and disgraced. The shame she brought on her parents could not be explained. Looking back, she recalled how she got pregnant for the man she called her husband for over ten years, the man she had sacrificed her future for.

    And due to her pregnant state, Brown compelled her to move in with him and promised that the marriage rites would be done soon after the baby was born. Nkechi had been so carried away by Brown’s promises to meet with her parents that it never dawned on her that ten years, three kids, had passed so quickly. Whenever she tried to remind him, he would tell her that the time was not right. He claimed he was waiting for the big bucks to come before they perform their marriage rites. Well, the rest as they say is history.

    Brown has since moved to Abuja. He has a very huge four-bedroom apartment and a car to match. Nkechi is stuck in Lagos with her kids, squatting with friends here and there, as her parents were still too angry to accommodate her. With no further education, no job (Brown had earlier told her there was no need for her to work). Where would she go from here? Would Brown come back to his senses? Was this a set-up so that she would not partake in the benefits that came with his promotion? Who was this fake prophet and where did he come from? If she was good enough to be his wife in a one-bedroom apartment, why was she not good enough when the goodies were here? What does the future hold for Nkechi and her kids? Only tomorrow will tell.

    My comment

    If you must move in with a man, ensure he fulfils all conditions of acceptable marriage rites. If he does not have enough money, support him. (Wedding does not necessarily have to be expensive. You can go to the registry with just two witnesses. That way, you earn yourself and your kinsmen the respect they deserve. Don’t be too blinded by love that may not even appreciate you. I don’t care how long you have lived with him. I don’t care whether you have kids for him or not. If he has not performed the marriage rites, you are not his wife, and he is certainly not your husband.

    The sooner you rectify this, the better for everyone. If he loves you, let him prove it. With one thousand naira, you can be married.

  • Celebs’ children in showbiz

    NOWADAYS, the children of celebrities grow up in the limelight under the watchful eyes of the public and through photos and videos that their celeb parents share on social media.

    But many of these sons and daughters of the famous are only known to us because of their parents’ deeds. Without their parents’ accomplishments and names, most of them won’t be known.

    But some celeb children are popular in their own right. Some of them are now as popular,  if not more popular than their famous star parents. Entertainment is the biggest sector where most of these ‘double celeb’ kids can be found.

    Some of them act in the biggest movies, walk the red carpet at topnotch awards ceremonies and have huge following. It appears that this famous superstar families have passed the talent on from one generation to the next.

    Examples include the late cinema icon Ade Love’s actor children; the late entertainment guru, Art Alade’s son Dare Art Alade; Paul Ik Dairo, the son of the late highlife maestro IK Dairo; Femi Adebayo of the Oga Bello clan and several others.

    So take this journey with us and let us meet these ‘double celebs’ who, in their own, right are as popular as their parents.

     

    Darey Art Alade, son of Art Alade

    Multi-talented artiste, Dare Art Alade, popularly known as Darey, is the son of the renowned legendary Nigerian entertainer and iconic Nigerian jazz music pioneer Art Alade. Art Alade was a Nigerian television personality and producer, who was the host of The Bar Beach Show, a weekly variety show on NBC-TV that aired during the 1970s. Darey has won many awards like the Headies award for Artist of the Year.

     

    Falz, Femi Falana’s son

    The multitalented artist is the son of renowned human rights activist parents, Funmi and Femi Falana (SAN). Falz’s rise to stardom is quite remarkable because he is not from a family with deep roots in entertainment. But the artiste, one of the industry’s hardest workers, is now a dominant face in music, movies and the arts.

     

    Kunle, Gabriel, Aremu, Moji Afolayan, Ade Love’s children

    Kunle, Gabriel, Aremu and Moji Afolayan are the children of the late cinema icon, Ade Love, who dominated the big screen in the 70s and 80s.  His children, Kunle, Moji, Gabriel and Aremu are stars in the movie industry. Kunle, a movie producer and director of note, is known to create blockbuster movies. The highly talented and sought-after four have made the world theirs just as their dad did.

     

    Fred, Zack, Ruke, Mena Amata, children of John Amata

    The Amata family is like a factory, which has produced some of the country’s biggest producers, actors and directors. The Amata brothers were born into the film industry. Their late, John Amata father was a famous Nigerian filmmaker. The Amata siblings, Fred, Zack, Ruke, Mena, have kept the family’s flag flying.

     

    Samuel Olasehinde, Pa Ajirebi’s (Kayode Olasehinde)’s son

    Viewers got to know this father-son duo through acting, which the Law graduate from Obafemi Awolowo University first auditioned for when he was just five years old. Clarence Peters, son of Sir Shina Peter

    Ace music video director, filmmaker and cinematographer, Clarence, definitely has his father’s genes- physical appearance and his mother’s love for directing. Clarence is the son of juju superstar, Sir Shina Peters, and screen goddess, Clarion Chukwura.

     

    Linc, Yul, sons of Pete Edochie

    Linc and Yul, are the sons of the popular actor and the dominant face in several epic movies, Pete Edochie. The elder Edochie became famous for his perfect translation of the protagonist of Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”, which has been adjudged many times as one of Africa’s greatest novels.

    Linc Edochie, the elder brother of Yul, is a multiple talent- filmmaker, movie producer, actor, and supervisor.

    Since he became an actor, Linc has played roles in lots of the Nollywood movies and worked on the production of many Nollywood films.

    Fine-boy Yul, Linc’s younger brother, has starred in many hit movies. In July 2017, Yul Edochie joined politics and ran for governorship in Anambra State.

     

    Dr. Sid, Justus Esiri’s son

    Justus Esiri had more than 100 TV and film credits before he passed on in 2013. His son, Sidney Onoriode, widely known as Dr. Sid, a singer, songwriter and dentist, is making his mark in the music industry. Dr. Sid has been nominated for and has won several awards; just like his father did years before.

     

    Femi, Tope Adebayo, Adedayo’s Salami’s (Oga Bello’s) sons

    Femi and Tope followed in their father’s, veteran actor, Adebayo Salami’s footsteps. They are both A-list actors. Oga Bello, as their father is fondly called by many of his admirers, is one of Nigeria’s most successful and accomplished actors. Femi, a lawyer, is an actor, director, producer and Special Adviser to the Governor of Kwara State on Arts, Culture and Tourism. Femi began acting in 1985, the same year he featured in his father’s first movie, titled Ogun Ajaye. While is younger brother, Tope Adebayo, is also a successful movie director,who studied at the University of Ilorin.

    Sola Kosoko-Abina, Bidemi, Jide Kosoko’s daughters

    Sola and Bidemi are the daughters of superstar actor, Prince Jide Kosoko. Sola is an actress and director. Bidemi is an actress. Both of them are stars in their own right. The two women, who are both Theatre Arts graduates, have grown into beautiful, mature women and powerhouse actresses.

     

    DJ Cuppy, Femi Otedola’s daughter

    Businessman, philanthropist, and chairman of Forte Oil, Femi Otedola, wanted to raise his kids far from the world of showbiz but that wasn’t to be. DJ Cuppy schooled in United Kingdom, but that didn’t stop her from performing and later making her way up in the entertainment world. DJ Cuppy is quite popular on the music scene and has a large following on social media.

  • Children prevent robbers from stealing dad’s car

    Two children have prevented two robbers from stealing their father’s car.

    The children struggled with the robbers and took over the control of the steering from them, which made the car to hit a wall and somersault.

    It was gathered that the father of the children, simply identified as Doctor, parked to drop his children at Brother Pius Nursery and Primary School, Akenzua Street, off Airport Road, Benin City, when the robbers ordered him to step out of the car.

    The man stepped out and the suspected robbers/kidnappers entered the car and drove off, with the children inside.

    Sources said the children struggled and took over the control of the steering from the robbers/kidnappers and the car veered off the road, hit a building wall before somersaulting.